U.S. patent number 6,550,862 [Application Number 09/881,503] was granted by the patent office on 2003-04-22 for juvenile vehicle seat cup holder.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Cosco Management, Inc.. Invention is credited to James M. Kain.
United States Patent |
6,550,862 |
Kain |
April 22, 2003 |
Juvenile vehicle seat cup holder
Abstract
A juvenile vehicle seat is provided including a cup holder. The
cup holder is movable between a retracted position adjacent the
seat and an extended position spaced from the seat.
Inventors: |
Kain; James M. (Troy, OH) |
Assignee: |
Cosco Management, Inc.
(Wilmington, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
25378623 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/881,503 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/250.1;
297/188.11; 297/188.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N
2/2812 (20130101); B60N 2/753 (20180201); B60N
3/102 (20130101); B60N 2/286 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
7/62 (20060101); A47D 1/00 (20060101); A47D
15/00 (20060101); A47C 001/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;297/188.01,188.11,188.21,250.1,252 ;224/275 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nelson, Jr.; Milton
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barnes & Thornburg
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A juvenile vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat, and a cup
holder movably secured to the seat, the cup holder being
positionable between a first position and a second position,
wherein the cup holder is spaced apart from the seat by a first
distance when the cup holder is in the first position and is spaced
apart from the seat by a second distance when the cup holder is in
the second position, the first distance being less than the second
distance, and wherein the assembly further comprises a base, the
seat being removably secured to the base, and the cup holder is
movably secured to the base.
2. The juvenile vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the cup
holder includes a connecting member, the connecting member being
movable relative to the base, and a cup receiver coupled to the
connecting member to move therewith.
3. The juvenile vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 further comprising
a detent carried on one of the base or the connecting member and a
notch provided in the other of the base or the connecting member to
inhibit movement of the cup holder from at least one of the first
or second positions.
4. The juvenile vehicle seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the base
provides a receptor for the connecting member.
5. The juvenile vehicle seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the
connecting member includes a detent, the base includes a notch, and
the detent engages the notch to inhibit movement of the cup holder
from the second position toward the first position.
6. The juvenile vehicle seat assembly of claim 5, wherein the base
further includes an opening and the detent engages an edge of the
opening to inhibit movement of the cup holder from the first
position toward the second position.
7. The juvenile vehicle seat assembly of claim 6, wherein the
connecting member further includes a catch that engages the edge of
the opening to inhibit removal of the cup holder from the base.
8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base is formed to include
an aperture defined therein, and the cup holder includes a base
connector, the base connector extending into the aperture.
9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the base connector includes a
first portion and the base includes a second portion, the first
portion cooperating with the second portion to inhibit movement of
the cup holder from at least one of the first or second
positions.
10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the first portion includes a
detent and the second portion provides an engagement edge, the
detent engaging the edge when the cup holder is in the first
position to inhibit movement of the cup holder from the first
position toward the second position.
11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the first portion further
includes a catch that engages the edge when the cup holder is in
the second position to inhibit removal of the cup holder from the
base.
12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the second portion includes a
notch and the detent engages the notch when the cup holder is in
the second position to inhibit removal of the cup holder from the
base and to inhibit movement of the cup holder from the second
position toward the first position.
13. The juvenile vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein a base
connector includes a retainer and the base includes a first
retainer engaging portion and a second retainer engaging portion,
wherein the retainer engages the first retainer engaging portion to
inhibit movement of the cup holder from the second position and the
retainer engages the second retainer engaging portion to inhibit
movement of the cup holder from the first position.
14. The juvenile vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein a base
connector includes a first retainer and a second retainer and the
base includes a retainer engaging portion, wherein the first
retainer engages the retainer engaging portion to inhibit movement
of the cup holder from the first position and the second retainer
engages the retainer engaging portion to inhibit movement of the
cup holder from the base.
15. A juvenile vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat, a base
arranged to support the seat and form ed to include a cupholder
receptor and to include first, second, and third engagement
surfaces, and a cupholder mounted for movement relative to the base
between a retracted position and an extended position, the
cupholder including a cup receiver and a base connector coupled to
the cup receiver and arranged to extend into the cupholder receptor
formed in the base, the base connector including a first retainer
arranged to confront the first and second engagement surfaces upon
movement of the cupholder to the extended position to inhibit
movement of the cupholder relative to the base and away from the
extended position and arranged to confront the third engagement
surface upon movement of the cupholder to the retracted position to
inhibit movement of the cupholder relative to the base and toward
the extended position.
16. The seat assembly of claim 15, wherein the first, second, and
third engagement surfaces are arranged to lie in spaced-apart
parallel relation to one another.
17. The seat assembly of claim 16, wherein the second engagement
surface is positioned to lie between the first and third engagement
surfaces.
18. The seat assembly of claim 16, wherein the first and second
engagement surfaces cooperate to define an opening therebetween and
a portion of the first retainer extends into the opening upon
movement of the cupholder to the extended position.
19. The seat assembly of claim 15, wherein the base includes a deck
formed to include the first, second, and third engagement surfaces
and to define a ceiling of the cupholder receptor, the base
connector includes a retainer mount portion that is arranged to lie
under the deck and a neck portion that is arranged to interconnect
the retainer mount portion and the cup receiver, and the first
retainer is coupled to the retainer mount portion and arranged to
extend upwardly toward the deck to confront the first and second
engagement surfaces upon movement of the cupholder to the extended
position and to confront the third engagement surface upon movement
of the cupholder to thee retracted position.
20. The seat assembly of claim 19, wherein the deck is formed to
include a first opening defined in part by the first and second
engagement surfaces and sized to receive therein a portion of the
first retainer upon movement of the cupholder to the extended
position and the deck is also formed to include a second opening
defined in part by the third engagement surface and sized to
receive therein a portion of the first retainer upon movement of
the cupholder to the retracted position.
21. The seat assembly of claim 20, wherein the portion of the first
retainer is a detent having a curved surface arranged to confront
the first and second engagement surfaces upon movement of the
cupholder to the extended position and to confront the third
engagement surface upon movement of the cupholder to the retracted
position.
22. The seat assembly of claim 19, wherein the deck is formed to
include a first opening defined in part by the first and second
engagement surfaces and a second opening defined in part by the
third engagement surface, the first retainer includes a flexible
first tab cantilevered to the retainer mount portion of the base
connector to move up and down relative to the deck and a detent
appended to the flexible first tab to move up and down therewith,
and the detent is sized to extend into the first opening to
confront the first and second engagement surfaces upon movement of
the cupholder to the extended position and to extend into the
second opening to confront the third engagement surface upon
movement of the cupholder to the retracted position.
23. The seat assembly of claim 22, wherein the detent has a curved
surface arranged to contact the second engagement surface upon
movement of the cupholder from the extended position toward the
retracted position to urge the flexible first tab in a downward
direction away from the deck to allow the detent to leave the first
opening and upon further movement of the cupholder relative to the
deck to reach the retracted position and wherein the flexible first
tab provides means for moving the detent in an upward direction
into the second opening to confront the third engagement surface
upon movement of the cupholder to the retracted position.
24. The seat assembly of claim 19, wherein the base connector
further includes a second retainer arranged to confront the third
engagement surface upon movement of the cupholder to the extended
position to inhibit further movement of the cupholder relative to
the base away from the retracted position, the second retainer is
coupled to the retainer mount portion to cause the first retainer
to lie between the neck portion and the second retainer, and the
second retainer is arranged to extend upwardly toward the deck to
confront the third engagement surface upon movement of the
cupholder to the extended position and to lie in spaced-apart
relation to the third engagement surface upon movement of the
cupholder to the retracted position.
25. The seat assembly of claim 19, wherein the base connector
further includes a second retainer arranged to confront the third
engagement surface upon movement of the cupholder to the extended
position to inhibit further movement of the cupholder relative to
the base away from the retracted position, the deck is formed to
include an opening defined in part by the third engagement surface,
and the second retainer includes a flexible tab cantilevered to the
retainer mount portion of the base connector to move up and down
relative to the deck and a catch appended to the flexible tab to
move up and down therewith and sized to extend into the opening to
confront the third engagement surface upon movement of the
cupholder to the extended position.
26. The seat assembly of claim 25, wherein the catch has a stop
surface arranged to contact the third engagement surface to inhibit
removal of the cupholder from the cupholder receptor formed in the
base.
27. The assembly seat of claim 26, wherein the catch is positioned
to lie in the opening in spaced-apart relation to the third
engagement surface upon movement of the cupholder to the retracted
position, the first retainer includes a flexible tab cantilevered
to the retainer mount portion of the base connector to move up and
down relative to the deck and a detent appended to the flexible tab
of the first retainer to move up and down therewith, and the detent
is sized to extend into the opening formed in the deck to confront
the third engagement surface and lie in the opening between the
catch and the third engagement surface upon movement of the
cupholder to thy retracted position.
28. The seat assembly of claim 25, wherein the catch has a vertical
stop surface arranged to contact the third engagement surface to
inhibit removal of the cupholder from the cupholder receptor formed
in the base and a sloped surface arranged to cam on the second
engagement surface to bend the flexible tab downwardly to move the
catch relative to the deck and away from the second engagement
surface during initial insertion of the base connector into the
cupholder receptor and movement of the cupholder relative to the
base toward the retracted position.
29. The seat assembly of claim 15, wherein the base connector
further includes a second retainer arranged to confront the third
engagement surface upon movement of the cupholder to the extended
position to inhibit further movement of the cupholder relative to
the base away from the retracted position.
30. The seat assembly of claim 29, wherein the first retainer
includes a flexible first tab and a detent carried on the flexible
first tab and the second retainer includes a flexible second tab
and a catch carried on the flexible second tab.
31. The seat assembly of claim 30, wherein the detent has a curved
surface arranged to contact the second engagement surface upon
movement of the cupholder from the extended position toward the
retracted position to urge the flexible first tab in a downward
direction away from the second engagement surface to allow the
detent to move under and past the second engagement surface upon
further movement of the cupholder to reach the retracted
position.
32. The seat assembly of claim 30, wherein the catch has a vertical
stop surface arranged to contact the third engagement surface to
inhibit removal of the cupholder from the cupholder receptor formed
in the base and a sloped surface arranged to cam on the second
engagement surface to bend the flexible second tab downwardly to
move the catch under and past the second engagement surface during
initial insertion of the base connector into the cupholder receptor
and movement of the cupholder relative to the base toward the
retracted position.
33. A juvenile vehicle seat assembly comprising a base including a
deck formed to include first and second openings, and a side wall
formed to include a side opening, the deck and side wall
cooperating to form a cupholder receptor located under the deck to
receive a portion of a cupholder through the side opening formed in
the side wall, a seat supported on the base, and a cupholder
arranged to extend into the cupholder receptor through the side
opening formed in the side wall and move relative to the base
between an extended position and a retracted position, the
cupholder including a first retainer arranged to extend into the
first opening formed in the deck to inhibit movement of the
cupholder relative to the base upon movement of the cupholder to
the extended position and to extend into the second opening formed
in the deck to inhibit movement of the cupholder relative to the
base upon movement of the cupholder to the retracted position, the
cupholder further including a second retainer arranged to extend
into the second opening formed in the deck to inhibit movement of
the cupholder from the extended position to a withdrawn position
outside of the cupholder receptor formed in the base upon movement
of the cupholder to the extended position.
34. The seat assembly of claim 33, wherein the base further
includes a platform located under a portion of the cupholder, the
side wall is located between the deck and the platform, and the
cupholder is arranged to move along a path above the platform
during movement of the cupholder between the retracted and extended
positions.
35. The seat assembly of claim 34, wherein the base further
includes left and right guide supports located in the cupholder
receptor under the deck and arranged to support a portion of the
cupholder for sliding movement relative to the base during movement
of the cupholder between the retracted and extended positions, the
first and second retainers are coupled to said portion of the
cupholder, and the platform is arranged to lie outside of the
cupholder receptor formed in the base to support another portion of
the cupholder for sliding movement relative to the base during
movement of the cupholder between the retracted and extended
positions.
36. The seat assembly of claim 33, wherein the base further
includes left and right guide supports located in the cupholder
receptor under the deck and arranged to support a portion of the
cupholder for sliding movement relative to the base during movement
of the cupholder between the retracted and extended positions.
37. The seat assembly of claim 33, wherein the cupholder includes a
cup receiver and a base connector coupled to the cup receiver and
arranged to extend into the cupholder receptor formed in the base
and the first and second retainers are coupled to the base
connector.
38. The seat assembly of claim 37, wherein the first retainer
includes a flexible first tab cantilevered to the base connector
and a detent carried on the flexible first tab and sized to extend
into the first opening formed in the deck upon movement of the
cupholder to the extended position to inhibit movement of the
cupholder relative to the base and to extend into the second
opening formed in the deck upon movement of the cupholder to the
retracted position to inhibit movement of the cupholder from the
retracted position to the extended position.
39. The seat assembly of claim 38, wherein the second retainer
includes a flexible second tab cantilevered to the base connector
and a catch carried on the flexible second tab and sized to extend
into the second opening formed in the deck upon movement of the
cupholder to the extended position to inhibit withdrawal of the
base connector from the cupholder receptor formed in the base
through the side opening formed in the side wall.
40. The seat assembly of claim 37, wherein the second retainer
includes a flexible second tab cantilevered to the base connector
and a catch carried on the flexible second tab and sized to extend
into the second opening formed in the deck upon movement of the
cupholder to the extended position to inhibit withdrawal of the
base connector from the cupholder receptor formed in the base
through the side opening formed in the side wall.
41. A juvenile vehicle seat assembly comprising a base formed to
include a cupholder receptor, a seat supported on the base to lie
above the cupholder receptor, and a cupholder mounted for movement
in the cupholder receptor formed in the base between a retracted
position and an extended position, the cupholder including a base
connector arranged to extend into and move in the cupholder
receptor formed in the base, a cup receiver adapted to receive a
cup therein and located to position a portion of the cup receiver
under the seat upon movement of the cupholder to the retracted
position and to position the cup receiver away from the seat upon
movement of the cupholder to the extended position, and retainer
means coupled to the base connector for contacting the base to
inhibit movement of the cupholder relative to the base between the
retracted position and the extended position.
42. The seat assembly of claims 41, wherein the base includes a
deck, and a side wall formed to include a side opening and
cooperate with the deck to form the cupholder receptor under the
deck to receive the base connector through the side opening formed
in the side wall.
43. The seat assembly of claim 42, wherein the base includes a
platform positioned relative to the deck to locate the side wall
therebetween and positioned to underlie a portion of the cup
receiver upon movement of the cupholder to each of the retracted
and extended positions.
44. The seat assembly of claim 43, wherein the base further
includes a container coupled to each of the side wall and the
platform.
45. The seat assembly of claim 43, wherein the base further
includes a guide support located in the cupholder receptor under
the deck and arranged to support the base connector for sliding
movement relative to the base during movement of the cupholder
between the retracted and extended positions and movement of the
cup receiver on the platform.
46. The seat assembly of claim 41, wherein the deck is formed to
include first and second openings located under the seat and the
retainer means includes a first retainer coupled to the base
connector and arranged to extend into the first opening formed in
the deck to inhibit movement of the cupholder relative to the base
upon movement of the cupholder to the extended position and to
extend into the second opening formed in the deck to inhibit
movement of the cupholder toward the extended position upon
movement of the cupholder to the retracted position.
47. The seat assembly of claim 46, wherein the retainer means
further includes a second retainer coupled to the base connector
and arranged to extend into the second opening formed in the deck
to inhibit movement of the cupholder from the extended position to
a withdrawn position outside of the cupholder receptor formed in
the base upon movement of the cupholder to the extended position.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
The present application relates to a juvenile vehicle seat and
particularly to a juvenile vehicle seat having a cup holder movable
between a retracted position and an extended position.
Conventional juvenile vehicle seats are generally known and are in
relatively widespread use. It is desirable to provide a juvenile
vehicle seat including a cup holder movable between a retracted
position and an extended position.
According to the present disclosure, a juvenile vehicle seat is
provided including a seat bottom and a seat back and a cup holder
movable relative to the seat bottom. The cup holder is movable
between a retracted position adjacent the seat bottom and an
extended position spaced from the seat bottom.
In an illustrative embodiment, the cup holder includes a cup
retainer or article receiver coupled to a connector or connecting
member. A first portion of the connector cooperates with a second
portion of the seat bottom or a base for the seat bottom to inhibit
movement of the cup holder from at least one of the retracted and
extended positions.
In another illustrative embodiment, the juvenile vehicle seat base
is configured to releasably couple to the seat bottom. The base
provides a receptor or aperture to receive the connector. The base
includes engagement edges that cooperate with the connector to
inhibit movement of the cup holder from at least one of the
retracted and extended positions.
In another illustrative embodiment, the connector provides surfaces
to engage the engagement edges of the base. One or more flexible
tabs provide the surfaces so that when a user applies sufficient
force to move the cup holder toward the extended position or the
retracted position the tabs flex to disengage the surfaces from the
edges. The tabs and surfaces thereon are configured to cooperate
with the base or seat bottom to inhibit movement of the cup holder
until a deliberate and sufficient force is applied to move the cup
holder.
In still another illustrative embodiment, while in the retracted
position, the cup holder is spaced apart from the seat bottom by a
first distance. In the extended position the cup holder is spaced
apart from the seat bottom by a second distance. The second
distance is greater than the first distance. The second distance is
sufficient so that the cup holder, when in the extended position,
can accommodate cups or other articles having dimensions that would
not be accommodated by the cup holder in the retracted
position.
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the present
application will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art upon consideration of the following detailed description of
preferred embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out
the subject matter of this application as presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying
figures in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a juvenile vehicle seat having a
seat back, a seat bottom coupled to the seat back, a base coupled
to the seat bottom, and a movable cup holder engaging the base;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the juvenile vehicle
seat of FIG. 1 showing the cup holder in an extended position;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the juvenile vehicle
seat of FIG. 1 showing the cup holder positioned for assembly;
FIG. 4 is a front view of a portion of the juvenile vehicle seat of
FIG. 1 showing the cup holder in the extended position;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the juvenile vehicle seat of FIG. 1
taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3 showing the cup holder in a
retracted position, showing the connector engaging the base;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the juvenile vehicle seat similar to
FIG. 5 showing the cup holder in a position between the retracted
and extended positions;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing the cup holder
in the extended position; and
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of the juvenile vehicle
seat of FIG. 1 taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Juvenile vehicle seat assembly 10 includes a seat 12, 14, a base
16, and a cupholder 18 as shown in FIG. 1. Base 16 is arranged to
support seat 12, 14 and formed to include a cupholder receptor 38
and first, second, and third engagement surfaces 48, 50, 54 as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. First, second, and third engagement
surfaces 48, 50, 54 are arranged to lie in spaced-apart parallel
relation to one another as shown in FIG. 3. Second engagement
surface 50 is positioned to lie between the first and third
engagement surfaces 48, 54 as shown in FIG. 5.
Cupholder 18 is mounted for movement relative to base 16 between a
retracted position shown in FIG. 5 and an extended position shown
in FIG. 7. Cupholder 18 includes a cup receiver 20 and a base
connector 22 coupled to cup receiver 20 and arranged to extend into
cupholder receptor 38 formed in base 16 as suggested in FIGS. 1-3.
Base connector 22 including a first retainer 62 arranged to
confront first and second engagement surfaces 48, 50 upon movement
of cupholder 18 to the extended position to inhibit movement of
cupholder 18 relative to base 16 and away from the extended
position as shown in FIG. 7. First retainer 62 is also arranged to
confront third engagement surface 54 upon movement of cupholder 18
to the retracted position to inhibit movement of cupholder 18
relative to base 16 and toward the extended position.
As shown in FIG. 3, base 16 includes a front 28, a rear 30, and a
pair of side walls 32, 34. Base 16 further includes means (not
shown) for coupling seat bottom 12 to the base. Side wall 32 of
base 16 is formed to include an opening 39 into a cupholder
receptor 38 formed in base 16 to receive base connector 22 of cup
holder 18 and permit sliding movement of base connector 22 relative
to base 16. Although certain embodiments are disclosed herein as
including base 16, it is within the scope of this disclosure to
incorporate the features described herein as being part of base 16
into the seat bottom 12 or other portion of juvenile vehicle seat
10.
Base 16 includes a deck 36 formed to include first, second, and
third engagement surfaces 48, 50, 54 and to define a ceiling of
cupholder receptor 38 as shown in FIGS. 5-7. Base connector 22
includes a retainer mount portion 26 that is arranged to lie under
deck 36 and a neck portion 27 that is arranged to interconnect
retainer mount portion 26 and the cup receiver 20 as shown in FIGS.
3 and 6. Retainer means 62, 64 is coupled to base connector 22 for
contacting base 16 to inhibit movement of cupholder 18 relative to
base 16 between the retracted position and extended position as
suggested in FIGS. 5-7. Retainer means 62, 64 includes first
retainer 62 and second retainer 64 as shown in FIG. 3.
First retainer 62 is coupled to retainer mount portion 26 as shown
in FIG. 3. First retainer 62 is arranged to extend upwardly toward
deck 36 to confront first and second engagement surfaces 48, 50
upon movement of cupholder 18 to the extended position and to
confront third engagement surface 54 upon movement of cupholder 18
to the retracted position.
Deck 36 is formed to include a first opening 46 defined in part by
first and second engagement surfaces 48, 50 and sized to receive
therein a portion 70 , e.g. a detent, of first retainer 62 upon
movement of cupholder 18 to the extended position. Deck 36 is also
formed to include a second opening 52 defined in part by third
engagement surface 54 and sized to receive therein the detent 70 of
the first retainer 62 upon movement of cupholder 18 to the
retracted position as shown in FIG. 5. Detent 70 has a curved
surface arranged to confront first and second engagement surfaces
48, 50 upon movement of cupholder 18 to the extended position and
to confront third engagement surface 54 upon movement of cupholder
18 to the retracted position.
First retainer 62 includes a flexible first tab 66 cantilevered to
retainer mount portion 26 of base connector 22 to move up and down
relative to deck 36 and detent 70 is appended to flexible first tab
66 to move up and down therewith. Detent 70 is sized to extend into
first opening 46 to confront first and second engagement surfaces
48, 50 upon movement of cupholder 18 to the extended position and
to extend into second opening 52 to confront third engagement
surface 54 upon movement of cupholder 18 to the retracted position.
Flexible first tab 66 provides means for moving detent 70 in an
upward direction into second opening 52 to confront third
engagement surface 54 upon movement of cupholder 18 to the
retracted position as suggested in FIGS. 5 and 6.
Base connector 22 further includes a second retainer 64 arranged to
confront third engagement surface 54 upon movement of cupholder 18
to the extended position to inhibit further movement of cupholder
18 relative to base 16 away from the retracted position so as to
block movement of cupholder 18 to a withdrawn position outside of
cupholder receptor 38 formed in base 16. Second retainer 64 is
coupled to retainer mount portion 26 to cause first retainer 62 to
lie between neck portion 27 and second retainer 64. Second retainer
64 is arranged to extend upwardly toward deck 36 to confront third
engagement surface 54 upon movement of cupholder 18 to the extended
position as shown in FIG. 7 and to lie in spaced-apart relation to
third engagement surface 54 upon movement of cupholder 18 to the
retracted position as shown in FIG. 5.
Second retainer 64 includes a flexible second tab 68 cantilevered
to retainer mount portion 26 of the base connector 22 to move up
and down relative to deck 36 and a catch 72 appended to flexible
second tab 68 to move up and down therewith. Catch 72 is sized to
extend into the second opening 52 to confront third engagement
surface 54 upon movement of cupholder 18 to the extended
position.
Catch 72 has a vertical stop surface 76 arranged to contact third
engagement surface 54 to inhibit removal of cupholder 18 from
cupholder receptor 38 formed in base 16. Catch 72 also includes a
sloped surface 74 arranged to cam on second engagement surface 50
to bend flexible second tab 68 downwardly to move catch 72 relative
to deck 36 and away from second engagement surface 50 during
initial insertion of base connector 22 into cupholder receptor 38
and movement of cupholder 18 relative to base 16 toward the
retracted position. Catch 72 is positioned to lie in second opening
52 in spaced-apart relation to third engagement surface 54 upon
movement of cupholder 18 to the retracted position.
Base 16 further includes a platform 90 located under a portion of
the cupholder 18 and a side wall 32 is located between deck 36 and
platform 90. Side wall 32 is formed to include side opening 39 and
cooperate with deck 36 to form cupholder receptor 38 under deck 36
to receive base connector 22 through the side opening 39 as
suggested in FIG. 3. Cupholder 18 is arranged to move along a path
above platform 90 during movement of cupholder 18 between the
retracted and extended positions as shown in FIGS. 5-7.
Base 16 further includes left and right guide supports 120, 122
located in cupholder receptor 38 under deck 36 and arranged to
support a portion of cupholder 18 for sliding movement relative to
base 16 during movement of cupholder 18 between the retracted and
extended positions. Platform 90 is arranged to lie outside of
cupholder receptor 38 formed in base 16 to support another portion
of cupholder 18 for sliding movement relative to base 16 during
movement of cupholder 18 between the retracted and extended
positions.
Referring now to FIGS. 4-7, first portion 26 of base connector 22
is configured to cooperate with a second portion 40 of base 16.
Second portion 40 includes first and second retainer engaging
portions 42, 44 for engaging base connector 22. Illustratively,
first retainer engaging portion 42 provides a first opening or
notch 46 providing engagement edges or surfaces 48, 50 that
cooperate with base connector 22 to inhibit movement of cup holder
18 from the extended position. Second retainer engaging portion 44
provides a second opening 52 providing a third engagement edge or
surface 54 to cooperate with base connector 22 to inhibit movement
of cup holder 18 from the retracted position and to inhibit removal
of cup holder 18 from base 16. Although in illustrative embodiments
base 16 includes first and second retainer engaging portions 42,
44, a single retainer engaging portion inhibiting movement of the
cup holder 18 is within the scope of this disclosure. Additionally,
although retainer engaging portions 42, 44 have been illustrated as
including first and second openings 46, 52 providing engagement
edges 48, 50, 54, other known structures cooperating with base
connector 22 to inhibit movement of cup holder 18 are within the
scope of this disclosure. For example, cup holder 18 could include
a structure to interact with the seat bottom or base to provide
friction or other forms of contact to inhibit movement of the cup
holder.
As shown in FIG. 3, base connector 22 provides first and second
openings 56, 58 each providing a connection edge 60. First portion
26 of base connector 22 includes first and second retainers 62, 64
having first and second tabs 66, 68 respectively, each tab being
cantilevered to one of connection edges 60. As shown in FIGS. 5-7,
first tab 66 provides a detent 70. Illustratively, detent 70 has a
curved surface. Also as shown in FIGS. 5-7, second tab 68 provides
a catch 72 having a sloped surface 74 and a stop surface 76.
As shown in FIG. 4, when cup holder 18 is in the extended position,
cup receiver 20 is spaced apart from base 16 and seat bottom 12 by
a distance 84 greater than when cup holder 18 is in the retracted
position. In an illustrative embodiment, distance 84 is about two
inches. However, it is within the scope of this disclosure for
distance 84 to be other lengths. Distance 84 is illustratively
sufficient in length so that cup receiver 20, when in the extended
position, can accommodate cups or other articles having dimensions
that would not be accommodated by the cup holder 18 in the
retracted position.
In the retracted position shown in FIG. 5, cup receiver 20 is
proximate or adjacent side 32 of base 16. In this position, catch
72 and detent 70 are positioned in second opening 52. When a user
applies force to cup holder 18 in a direction 80, detent 70 engages
third engagement edge 54 of opening 52 to inhibit movement of cup
holder 18 from the retracted position toward the extended
position.
Referring to FIG. 6, as a user applies a force sufficient to move
cup holder 18 in direction 80 from the retracted position toward
the extended position, the curved surface of detent 70 moves
against third engagement edge 54 until first tab 66 flexes and
detent 70 disengages third engagement edge 54. As a user continues
to slide cup holder 18 in direction 80, detent 70 moves against a
bottom surface of second retainer engaging portion 44.
As a user moves cup holder 18 to the extended position shown in
FIG. 7, detent 70 snaps into first opening or notch 46. In this
position, detent 70 is adjacent edges 48, 50 of first opening 46.
Also as shown in the extended position of FIG. 7, catch 72 is
adjacent third engagement edge 54 of second opening 52. When cup
holder 18 is in the extended position, as a user applies force in
direction 80 to cup holder 18, detent 70 and stop surface 76 engage
edge 48 and third engagement edge 54 respectively, inhibiting
removal of cup holder 18 from base 16. As a user applies force in
direction 82 to cup holder 18, detent 70 engages edge 50,
inhibiting movement of cup holder 18 from the extended position
toward the retracted position.
To insert cup holder 18 into base 16, a user inserts base connector
22 into cupholder receptor 38. As the user moves cup holder 18
toward the retracted position, catch 72 slides along an underside
of base 16. Sloped surface 74 facilitates insertion of base
connector 22 by the user by reducing resistance in sliding catch 72
past edge 50.
Each of guide supports 120, 122 includes a generally upwardly
facing support surface 128. In operation, as shown in FIGS. 5-7,
guides 110, 112 slide on support surface 128 thereby maintaining
first portion 26 of cup holder 18 in the proper position to engage
second portion 40 of base 16.
As shown in FIGS. 5-7, platform 90 illustratively provides
additional support to cup holder 18 by supporting cup receiver 20
when cup holder 18 is in the retracted position, and by supporting
at least a portion of cup receiver 20 or base connector 22 when cup
holder 18 is between the retracted and extended positions. When cup
holder 18 is in the extended position, platform 90 supports base
connector 22. Platform 90 and container 92 are illustratively
shaped so that the outer surface contours of cup holder 18 appear
to continue the contours of the outer surfaces of platform 90 and
container 92. These shapes provide the appearance that the cup
holder 18 is an integral part of the base 16 when the cup holder 18
is in the retracted position.
Although this application has described detail with reference to
certain preferred or illustrative embodiments, variations and
modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as
described and defined in the following claims.
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